Unchanged plasma levels of dimethylarginines and nitric oxide in chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
Previous studies have shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and nitric oxide (NO) play a prominent role in liver dysfunction. The objective of this study was to determine whether plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO are altered in patients with chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO (nitrite plus nitrate) were measured in 22 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 24 patients with sustained virologic response after treatment with peginterferon plus ribavirin. Seven healthy volunteers served as controls.


RESULTS
Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO were not significantly different between groups: chronic hepatitis C, ADMA 0.55+/-0.06, SDMA 0.22+/-0.03, NO 36.3+/-5.9 micromol/l; treated patients, ADMA 0.60+/-0.15, SDMA 0.31+/-0.05, NO 36.1+/-5.5 micromol/l; controls, ADMA 0.65+/-0.08, SDMA 0.28+/-0.05, NO 40.7+/-8.9 micromol/l).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that plasma NO, ADMA and SDMA concentrations are not changed in patients with chronic hepatitis C without superimposed signs of acute inflammatory activity. Furthermore, no significant differences in plasma values of NO and dimethylarginines were observed between the group of untreated patients and the group of patients treated with interferon plus ribavirin.
Lluch
Paloma
P
Servicio de Hepatologia, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Valencia, Spain.
Cortina
Belén
B
Vila
José M
JM
Segarra
Gloria
G
Mauricio
Maria D
MD
del Olmo
Juan A
JA
Serra
Miguel A
MA
Lluch
Salvador
S
Rodrigo
José M
JM
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C024917:symmetric dimethylarginine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b